Cameron Young finished runner-up five times last season on the PGA Tour.
To come so close, so often to a first victory on Tour at just 25 years old, you would think Young has one clear goal for 2023: win. Right?
Not quite.
“I feel like I did play really nicely last year. I think there is some emphasis put on me trying to win for the first time, which of course I am,” said Young ahead of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. “But I think, for me, I have to look at it as I could win a golf tournament this year and not necessarily be any better than last year. I don’t know if it is a mark of improvement for me in that sense.
“I think obviously you have to play some tremendous golf to win out here and I played some tremendous golf last year. I just happened to get beat by one guy a few times.”
Over 25 starts last season as a PGA Tour rookie, Young made 18 cuts and finished inside the top 25 a whopping 12 times, including his five close calls, one of which came at the British Open. The New York native and now-Florida resident also finished T-2 at the Sanderson Farms Championship, Genesis Invitational, Wells Fargo Championship and Rocket Mortgage Classic.
MORE: Cameron Young through the years
“So I’m really just trying to stick to what I know and continue to get better. Which I think I’m doing,” Young explained. “I don’t think the results have showed it this year thus far. But I’ve played some nice golf and I think if I just kind of keep sticking to what I do, keep pounding the stone, the results will speak for themselves.”
For his efforts last season, Young won the Arnold Palmer Award winner as the Tour’s rookie of the year. As if this week at Bay Hill wasn’t special for Wake Forest grad.
“I think he is one of the most important people in the world of golf, especially in the world of professional golf in history. So any time you get to be connected to him in any way at all is special. I think it’s a sign that you’re doing some things right,” said Young of his connection to Palmer. “So to win his award and put myself not only on that list of names that have won that award, but just to connect with Mr. Palmer in another way is very special.
I’ve been looking forward to coming back all year. It’s one of my favorites of the year. It’s an unbelievable golf course. I’m very familiar with the area. My family used to kind of spend some time here in the winter. So it kind of feels a little bit like home. It’s one I look forward to all year.
Sounds like the perfect place for a first win, doesn’t it?
